Re: Entering '<1' and 'BDL'

From: Tom Keller <kellert(at)ohsu(dot)edu>
To: Postgresql PDX_Users <pdxpug(at)postgresql(dot)org>
Subject: Re: Entering '<1' and 'BDL'
Date: 2010-04-20 19:49:50
Message-ID: 02BF391A-F3C9-480A-8C9B-C108C15AA425@ohsu.edu
Views: Raw Message | Whole Thread | Download mbox | Resend email
Thread:
Lists: pdxpug

Why distinguish "below detection limit" at the data level? I would use the value measured and enforce the ramification of the detection limit in subsequent analysis. Then use NULL for missing values only.
... or isn't that feasible?

Tom
kellert(at)ohsu(dot)edu<mailto:kellert(at)ohsu(dot)edu>
503-494-2442

On Apr 20, 2010, at 12:38 PM, Rich Shepard wrote:

On Tue, 20 Apr 2010, Rich Shepard wrote:

The database we're building uses floating point numbers, where
appropriate. Spreadsheets use whatever someone wants to put in a cell. I
need to look at how NAN is expressed.

However, this does raise a question that I need to answer: how to
distinguish between a sample taken, analyzed, and with a value below
detection limits and a sample not taken. There may be legitimate reasons for
not taking a sample, or it might have been missed inadvertently. Or, the
sameple might have been taken and analyzed but the results not entered in
the system.

We need to ponder this.

Rich

--
Sent via pdxpug mailing list (pdxpug(at)postgresql(dot)org<mailto:pdxpug(at)postgresql(dot)org>)
To make changes to your subscription:
http://www.postgresql.org/mailpref/pdxpug

In response to

Responses

Browse pdxpug by date

  From Date Subject
Next Message Rich Shepard 2010-04-20 20:25:10 Re: Entering '<1' and 'BDL'
Previous Message Rich Shepard 2010-04-20 19:38:31 Re: Entering '<1' and 'BDL'